On June 28, our Cohen Family Upstander 5K & Family Day, generously supported by Connie & Buzz Dow, will be filled with energy, creativity, and meaningful community connection. Families, friends, and supporters are invited to come together to celebrate what it means to be an upstander through engaging activities, storytelling, art, wellness, and hands-on experiences for all ages.
Kicking off at 8:30 a.m., runners and walkers will enjoy a scenic route through the West End and Price Hill, followed by a full day of activities celebrating community and movement.
Run or walk the 5K, then stay for a day that feels like a nonstop party:
- Free museum admission
- A DJ and a crowd that brings the energy
- An epic Union Terminal medal and t-shirt
- Breakfast snacks
- Pickleball courts open for play
Boston Marathon legend Kathrine Switzer returns this year for her second time as Race Marshal, bringing the same determination that made history. More than a trailblazer, she is a living example of what it means to be an upstander, someone who refuses to back down in the face of injustice. On June 28, she will once again lead runners across the starting line and present the Dr. Al Miller Resilience Award, honoring a participant whose perseverance and strength reflect the very spirit she helped ignite nearly six decades ago. Following the race, Kathrine will speak in Reakirt Auditorium at 10:30 a.m., and will be available to meet and take photos with guests.
Inside the museum, explore a variety of impactful programming for all ages, including:
Pet Partners of Greater Cincinnati
Get a first-hand look at the transformative power of therapy dogs with Pet Partners of Greater Cincinnati. Experience the magic of human-animal bonds and discover how these amazing dogs support and enrich the emotional and physical lives of those in our community.
Friendship Bracelet Making & Bedazzling
Upstanders value relationships and connection within their communities. Create friendship bracelets, add some sparkle with bedazzling activities, and celebrate the people who help make our communities stronger.
Strengths in Bloom Flower Cart
Stop by the Upstander Flower Cart to create a unique bouquet! Reflect on your strengths, choose the ones you wish to grow and share, and take home your bouquet as a reminder of your inner power.
Sniff Sniff, Hooray! with ZaZa’s Scents
Join ZaZa’s Scents for a creative, sensory-filled activity where children can design and decorate their own masks while exploring fun scents and self-expression. Through color, creativity, and interactive fragrance experiences, participants will learn how kindness, empathy, and teamwork can help make a positive impact in their communities.
Discover Cincinnati Art Museum
Get creative with hands-on family activities inspired by the Cincinnati Art Museum! Enjoy art-themed crafts, interactive experiences, and fun opportunities for all ages to explore creativity together.
Upstander Heroes Headquarters
Show your children that they can be heroes! Children will have the opportunity to explore their top character strength while coloring, dressing up, and taking a photo as a superhero! Participants will take home a photo celebrating their potential to be upstanders and have the opportunity to have their faces painted to show their super strength!
Conversations with the Cincinnati History Museum
Join a curator from the Cincinnati History Museum to learn about collection items and exciting stories of upstanders in Cincinnati!
Upstander Tours of the Nancy & David Wolf Holocaust & Humanity Center:
Experience a guided upstander-themed tour of the award-winning Nancy & David Wolf Holocaust & Humanity Center. Through this immersive experience, you will encounter contemporary and historical stories of courage, perseverance, loss, redemption, and new life, as told by local Holocaust survivors and upstanders. You will witness towering acts of local heroism that have shaped Cincinnati and will inspire you to become the upstander our city and world needs. Through this interactive tour participants will consider how the lessons from these stories can inspire action in their sphere of influence, today.
Realize to Act
Participate in engaging activities with Realize to Act, including balloon animals and an interactive Post-it note activation that encourages reflection, leadership, and taking meaningful action as an upstander in everyday life.
The Story Collective
Experience an interactive performance where kids in the audience will become part of the show through storytelling, creativity, and community participation. This engaging experience highlights the power of sharing stories and building empathy through connection and imagination.
Upstander Button Making
Create your own custom buttons inspired by kindness, courage, and standing up for others. Take home your unique creation as a reminder to be an upstander every day.
Our Cohen Family Upstander 5K & Family Day, generously supported by Connie & Buzz Dow, is part of Cohen Family Upstander Month, a growing series of programs and events designed to inspire action and build a community of upstanders. Now in its fourth year, the initiative has expanded from a single weekend into a month-long movement that engages the community in conversations about character, responsibility, and action. This year follows a landmark moment for the Center, which recently hosted the international exhibition Auschwitz. Not long ago. Not far away., deepening the community’s connection to Holocaust history and its relevance today.
Register now for the Cohen Family Upstander 5K & Family Day, and explore other Cohen Family Upstander Month events throughout June.
Cohen Family Upstander Month is generously supported by Duke Energy, Procter & Gamble, Cincinnati Museum Center, and the Mayerson Family Foundation.
